The Heyl Truck Lines Experience

Hey there. I live about 2 1/2 hours away (North) of the terminal. Do they require you to bring your truck home every home time or just when it needs servicing? We live in the country and have a large fenced yard and it would be nice not to have to use up 5 hours of my home time (and fuel) driving back and forth. Also, are they good about getting you home when you need to be or through your home area in between home times? This thread has been so helpful! My husband is an OTR driver thinking of going with Heyl. Sounds like you get consistant miles and have pretty good equipment, which is great. How are the dispatchers? He has found some companies are better than others when it comes to how they treat their drivers. Thanks so much.

 

Dixie, I live about the same distance away, and they hired me. They do prefer that the truck is returned to the yard, but I have heard some instances where drivers take the truck home. You get near a terminal frequently enough that servicing can be done while on the road.

Concerning the home time, they will get you home when you request. The problem I've run into is getting home early. If I request Friday, I often get near home Wed or Thurs. My dispatcher has learned over the last few months that I do not like to go home on weekdays, so I get round trips to Miami or I run something up to switch around Nashville and head back just in time for home time. I live about 2 hours south of you, and I have never gotten closer than 45 miles from my house. I go up I4 and catch 95, near your place, maybe once a month. It's not tricky dispatchers keeping you away from home, there just aren't many (or any?) customers in that area.

As for the money you can expect to make, when the quarter is up, I'll post my gross pay. I'm expecting somewhere around $13,500 total including all fuel bonuses, safety bonuses, and the 2nd part of the sign on bonus ($600). I do 17 days out, 3-4 days at home, always on the weekends.

 

Shkinferd,
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. My hubby is starting orientation this Tuesday in Zephyrhills. I hope he does well. He was with a company that did a minimum of 4 weeks out last time, so 3-4 weeks out isn't bad. I am a nursing student and go to school Tues-Friday, so we prefer he get home time on the weekends too. Keep us updated.

 

Dixieland, welcome to the company, for you and your husband. I hope everything works out! 3-4 weeks isn't a standard for home time. If he just happens to get a load to Florida after being out 2 weeks, they aren't going to say you can't go home. Freight is always coming in to Florida, and as long as you don't abuse taking to much time off everything should be good. I don't live in Florida, but I really don't think it is mandatory to leave your truck in the yard. Take it home.

 

After a relaxing weekend, I went out to start my truck and nothing happened, dead batteries. Had to charge my batteries for 20 minutes to get enough juice to start the truck, that left me with just enough time to get to the Shipper in Seattle just on time. Very interesting place, a fish warehouse from salmon from Alaska, just off the river that goes through Seattle then out to sea. Then I was FINALLY able to see my family in SLC after not getting through there in 6 months.
I love that drive from US off I 15 down through Price, then through the most scenic route almost anywhere in the country through Moab, Ut on US 191 past Arches National Park, looking at magnificent orange arches and cliffs. Didn't stop this time, but one time through I am going to rent a jeep and go through Arches NP and see the beauty even closer. Then further down 191 into New Mexico is just as stinning driving through the high desert with cliffs and crazy looking structures standing out just to look at, and say wow.
Made it to Ft. Worth, then picked up the next day in Waco, headed up to Paw Paw, Mi again. Everyone be safe!

 

Thanks for all the info. The hubs went to orientation today and had a good feeling about everything. He should get his truck tomorrow and get to come home for the night and leave out for his 1st run on Thursday. Here's to hoping for some GREAT paychecks, Lord knows we need them!

 

I started orientation in Edinburg on the 15th and finished on the 15th. I just filled out a bunch of paperwork and watched some videos on CSA 2010. I got my truck its an 07 volvo with a rigmaster apu. So far I haven't had any problems with the rigmaster. I got my first load after I was done with orientation. It was 1113 miles picking up at the terminal in Edinburg on Tuesday and going to Allen's Canning in Montezuma, GA for Thursday morning.. Then I got a dispatch to dh 124 miles up to Fairburn, GA to get a load on Friday going to the Walmart DC in Auburndale, FL for 422 miles which delivered Saturday. After I was unloaded I was told to dh 17 miles Lake Wales to pick up a load of juice going 3095 miles to Unified Western Grocers in Portland on Friday. After I deliverd I went to Columbia Colstor in Kennewick, WA for a drop and hook going to San Antonio which I'm waiting to deliver tomorrow at 0500 at Ben E. Keith. The San Antonio load was 211 miles for dh and the loaded miles were 1931. So far I'm very impressed.

 

I have been off the road for about 3 months handling some family issues and moving to WA state from AZ. I think I may apply for Heyl now that I am in a state they hire out of. Can someone tell me how the freight out of WA is? Thanks

 

My last few weeks have been pretty good. After I got back from my vacation on the 24th, I got a load from Wallula, WA to Waterloo, IA. It reminded me how much I hate driving through Montana. I was done with it on Sunday and had to wait until morning until I was given my next run. It was from Cedar Rapids, IA to Le Mars, IA which wad nice, because Akron is only 20 miles away from Le Mars and I needed to get into shop. My windshield was cracked, APU wasn't working right and a few other minor things. The shop took care of everything again, but 2 days later my APU stopped working for the 3rd time since I got this truck. Always the same thing no heat, AC or power, but it starts up.

From Akron I went to our Sioux City drop lot and swapped trailers. I got a load that was going to Houston, TX which I delivered few hours ago. I'm sitting in line waiting to get my trailer washed out and I was told to head to Heyl drop lot in Galveston where I should get my next load.

 

I dong think you'll have any problems getting home. I live in Portland and since I started 5 weeks ago I had a load going to WA that brought me home and the 2 times I went out I've gotten loads from Kennewick area. Heyl also has a drop lot in Yakima.